Painting for Today

Below is today's painting, painted from a photo of a model. I don't like to paint from a photo, but I've missed life drawing for two weeks so I wanted to do a quick portrait sketch. I didn't have time to fiddle, and maybe that's a good thing. There is a lot wrong, but what is right is skin tones- I don't paint people of color often enough- and lost edges. It's a little sloppy and rushed but I was satisfied.

I've been reading a book called "On Becoming an Artist". It was the subtitle that sold me: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity. According to the author-- "mindfulness is an effortless, simple process that consists of drawing novel distinctions, that is, noticing new things."

So far, the book is interesting and the concept of being mindful is intriguing to me. I'm exploring mindfulness more fully. Anyone want to read along with me? On Becoming an Artist by Ellen J. Langer.

That's What I'm Talking About!

So the other day I posted a Hummingbird and told you why my sketchbook is so valuable. That hummingbird and the sketchbook experience helped to clarify my vision.  What I was looking to convey and what wasn't working for me.

 Later that same day I played again with the same subject, getting bolder and more playful with technique but subtler in colors and edges.  And VIOLA!  This is the painting I envisioned!  Some day's the magic happens, others it does not.  And that's another lesson 30 paintings in 30 days taught me: the more you paint, the more likely you will see the magic!  Basic math, really.

light drawing and the first wash 

Definition and added details.  For me, less is more.

To me, this painting has the delicacy and fragility of the hummingbird.  It has the movement I wanted to convey.  While recognizable, it is not defined like the other one.  Does not feel cut out and pasted or like I just colored inside the lines.  I wanted it to have a feel of not only movement but also how quickly they are gone and we are left with only their impression. (or a blurry photo!)  This is a small sketch, 4 x 6.  But now I know the possibilities, and will keep playing until I get a larger one I am happy with.

I may not get a good painting every day.  But every day I paint is a good day!

SOLD!

After posting the finished piece "Arm in Arm" on my Facebook page I had a great response.  The best response is always when someone wants to buy your work!  So before it even got to the show I sold it to someone who has another piece I did years ago of  a mother and child walking away.  How nice!

Now back to the easel!  I need more paintings for the show!!   :)

Experimentation

Another thing I learned painting for 30 days straight is that I have grown to love my sketchbooks.  In them I experiment.  With color, technique, composition, value, you name it.  For the most part, no one ever see's my sketchbooks, so there is no risk.  I am free to screw up, not finish, play, write about it.  In short I can just be me.  There is no pressure and like a written journal, these visual journals have created in me a sense of self.  I see growth in my art as well as my personal life.
But for 30 days it was not so very private.  I think the 30 days straight of painting and blogging about it helped me understand and share my process, concept to execution and the why of it all.  At a time when I was wondering why at all!
Below is today's little sketch.  Concept: looking through photos Sunday for the week (a new practice I started to prepare for a week of painting!) I came across photos I took this summer of several hummers that came to the feeder on my patio. I loved the lines (I did not get the lines right here) of the delicate form of the hummers bending to feed.  Love the line of the beak.  Did not love the feeder. Process: played with composition, a new feeder (petunia for added delicacy and frill), made color notes and decisions and experimented with the technique I've been using on the primrose of late (for the blur of the wings).  And then I executed, knowing I did not have to share if I flopped completely I liked a lot about this and some of it I learned what I wouldn't do again!  Then I made notes: liked the wings, color too bold on bird, missed the contour of the line of the bird entirely--which was part of why I chose it!
So another day, another painting, another lesson!

Just for fun!

Another thing I learned over the 30 day challenge was: I have standards. Since these paintings had to be finished, it meant I didn't have time to mess around on a few that didn't work. That first one had to work or I'd be there a long time! It had to be small I figured out early. It had to be simple if I didn't want to spend more than an hour. An hour being average painting time. I'm not talking about conception to execution here! So if you add in finding inspiration, well, I was working overtime!
So keeping this in mind, I also wanted them to be good. Good by my standards. I'm always telling my students they are too self critical. I guess I am as well. Honestly, I would have only put up about six of the thirty. What I found interesting was some of the paintings I was most reluctant to show were some of the most "liked" on my Facebook page and well received on my blog. So I guess I learned that I too, am too self critical!
Today I tried to recreate a sketch from the previous 30 days. Disaster with a capital D. So I put it aside and played with color again. Threw down a wash and let it dry, then some negative painting and color mixing. It's loose (very) and free! Not a keeper, but I'm liking this technique. I stopped when I started getting muddy with too many colors.
It's snowing right now, but spring is coming! I feel it! And for me that means I will be painting flowers from life--outside in the open air! Until then, I should really take advantage of all this snow we never get!
What to paint next?